A Gnosall man who set up shop without planning permission is facing enforcement action by Stafford Borough Council.

George Bradshaw applied for planning permission to retain and use an existing wooden building at The Stables, Station Road, as a farm shop.

But permission was refused in December 2016 because the shop was considered unsustainable development outside the Gnosall settlement boundary. There were also concerns the retention of the building and its commercial use “would harm the character and appearance of the locality, resulting in an unnecessary urbanisation of the site and an undesirable visual intrusion onto an open landscape”, a report to Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee said.

An appeal was not lodged against the refusal. But several months later the council’s planning enforcement department received a report about retail sales taking place on the site.

The committee report said: “A site visit was carried out and it was established that the owner was selling logs, fence panels, vegetables, Christmas trees and Christmas ornaments. The owner was advised to cease all retail sales and remove the items for sale from the land.

“A site visit was carried out on January 4 and it was noted that the vegetables and Christmas items had been removed from sale. However, in addition to the logs and fence panels, there were wooden ornaments, a bird table, a trailer, hardwood and kindling for sale.”

But Mr Bradshaw told the Newsletter he was not running a farm shop, and he had been informed he was not doing anything wrong because he was only selling “a few logs and sticks”.

Speaking at last week’s planning committee meeting, where members were asked to approve enforcement action against Mr Bradshaw, Councillor Ken Williamson, who represents Gnosall and Woodseaves, said: “Even after site visits before and after Christmas he has continued to trade; demonstrating utter contempt after his discussions with this planning committee.

“The site is an absolute disgrace; I and the parish council have received many complaints. The residents of Gnosall can’t understand how he can flout planning rules when others have to comply.

“I ask you to accept the recommendation and authorise the enforcement action.”

He said: “After numerous visits from numerous council officials, all stating different opinions, they keep stating I am doing things wrong, but not explaining what I am doing wrong. After speaking to a lady from the planning office in Stafford and her co-worker that attended her visit a couple of weeks ago, she stated I had (done) nothing wrong and nothing to alter, as I only sell a few logs and sticks. I also make the occasional bird table from wood.